Ticket machine



R. I. N. WEINGART Nova 14, 1950 TICKET MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1949 1950 R. 1. N. WEINGART 2,

TICKET MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 v IN VEN TOR. mar/M0 [M gravy/41v NW0 1141-, 11950 R. n. N. WEINGART 2, ,7

TICKET MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mag/ Nov, 14, 1950 R. 1. N. WEINGART 2,

TICKET MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 .2:

0a 7a 5 Q if 15 is! a w E 5 J3 9 r 3 a"! I a Nova M, 1950 R. l. N. WEINGART 2,5Z9 75@ TICKET MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TICKET MACHINE Richard I. N. Weingart, New York, N. Y.

Application September 28, 1949, Serial No. 118,307

Claims.

This invention relates to ticket machines, and relates more particularly to a novel apparatus designed primarily, although not exclusively, for motion picture theatres. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application on Ticket Machines filed January 28, 1948, Serial No. 4,863, now abandoned. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic machine which severs the patrons stub from the ticket, perforates the theatres stub, and then deposits the perforated stub on a spindle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ticket machine which will very considerably reduce, if not wholly eliminate, losses to theatre owners due to collusion between the ticket collector and the ticket seller. The common practice, and one which is difficult to detect, is for the collector to fail to tear the ticket. The patron is thus given no stub at all, or, in the case of a party, there will be given fewer stubs than members of the party. The untorn tickets are then returned in due time to the seller, who sells them a second time on his own account.

Patrons generally proceed directly from the ticket seller to the ticket collector, and the present machine makes use of this fact, plus the fact that tickets are required by law to be consecutively numbered, for detecting such practices. Each theatres stub is deposited on a spindle to which the collector has no access, and if any considerable number of tickets appear out of a generally consecutive numerical order, there is a fair presumption of irregularity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for cutting and punching the theatres stub, and then stripping the stub from the punch and depositing it on a spindle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel rotatable spindle-supporting assembly for plural spindles, wherein one spindle may be completely filled with tickets before the assembly is rotated to position the next spindle for ticket application. I

Yet another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for notifying the collector when one spindle is filled so that he may rotate the assembly to position the next spindle in ticket-applying position. Since it is desirable to have the rotatable assembly turned manually to position each successive spindle in ticket-receiving position, it sometimes happens that the assembly is not rotated far enough, which could cause difiiculty. Accordingly, the machine of the present invention further provides means for rendering the mechanism inoperative unless the fresh spindle is properly positioned.

Another and highly important object of the invention is to provide novel supporting means for the upper section of a relatively long spindle, while at the same time providing means for permitting tickets to pass downwardly on the spindie. In this connection, a hinged flap having spindle-grasping means holds the spindle in its normal, upright position. Above the flap and adjacent the upper end of the spindle is a generally square receptacle or cup through which the tickets pass. The lowermost tickets move the hinged flap out of spindle-supporting position, and thereafter, as long as such spindle is being used, the uppermost tickets disposed within and firmly supported against lateral movement rela tive to the cup provide adequate support for the spindle. Thus, the tickets form a bushing element between the spindle and the cup for main taining the position of the upper end of the spindle while always providing means permitting downward movement of the tickets on the spindle. Spring elements associated with the cup prevent upward movement of the tickets which are positioned therein.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a machine embodying the present invention, a portion of the housing being broken away to show internal parts of the machine. v

Fig. 2 is a broken, vertical section taken on line 2-4! of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken, vertical section taken on line 5--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a broken, vertical section taken on line i-d of Fig. l. I

Fig. 5 is a broken side elevation, partly in sec- 1 tion, showingthe relation of the ticket to the switch which is actuated by the ticket, the knives and the punch. V Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5, but shows the relation of the parts as the ticket is about to be cut. Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. I I

Fig. 8 is a broken side elevation, partly in section, showing the relation of the ticket punch to the ticket spindle. Fig. 9 is a broken section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a broken section taken on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8 and Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a broken section taken on line I l-ll of Fig.2. 7

Fig. 12 is a broken section taken on line |2|2 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a broken section taken on line |3-| 3 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a broken section taken on line |4-|4 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is a broken section taken on line |-|5 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 16 is a broken section taken on line |6-| 6 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 17 is a broken plan view of the top of the spindle-supporting assembly.

Fig. 18 is a broken section taken on line |8--| 8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a broken front elevation of the housing.

Fig. 20 is a broken front elevation of the machine, showing the relation of the ticket slot and the knives.

Fig. 21 is a circuit diagram.

Fig. 22 is a broken side elevation of the weight-operated switch at the lower end of a ticket spindle.

Fig. 23 is a horizontal section similar to the section shown in Fig. '7, but showing a modified form of spindle assembly.

Fig. 24 is a broken section taken on line 24-24 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a broken section taken on line 25-25 of Fig. 28.

Fig. 26 is a broken section taken on line 26-46 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 2'7 shows an alternative means for mounting the lower end of the ticket spindle.

The machine of the present invention is enclosed within an upright housing In of generally rectangular shape and provided with a vertically-hinged door II for gaining access to the operative parts of the machine. The theatres stub I2, which will be hereinafter referred to as the ticket, is arranged to be inserted through an opening [3 in the front wall M of the housing. Such front wall may further be provided with ticket guiding means E5 which form no part of the present invention.

The cutting, punching and stripping assembly is mounted in a frame structure at the upper end of the housing which includes side frames IS. The frame structure includes a base l9 which supports a motor whose shaft 2| passes into a one-revolution clutch assembly which may be disposed within a casing 22. No details of this assembly are shown since it is conventional and is arranged to produce one revolution of a main drive shaft 23 each time the circuit is closed, as hereinafter pointed out.

The ticket passes into an opening 24 in a front plate 34 (Fig. 20) and contacts spaced paddles mounted on shaft 21. Also keyed to shaft 21 is an arm 26 which contacts a pin associated with a snap-action electric switch 3|. The switch is normally held open by a spring (not shown). Momentary closing of the switch starts a cycle of operation.

Cutting means comprise a lower, fixed knife 32 and an upper, reciprocating knife 33, preferably having a cutting edge which is non-parallel with the edge of the fixed knife. The fixed knife is supported within an opening in front plate 34, and is so mounted as to have its cutting edge inclined slightly rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 9. The movable knife is formed with a lower projection 35 which is disposed to the rear of the fixed knife. Means for moving the knife comprise a knife-actuating shaft 36 to which are keyed spaced levers 40. At the outer end of each lever 49 a bell-crank lever is pivotally mounted at 4| (Fig. 2). One arm 42 of the latter lever is urged toward lever 40 by means of a spring 43. The outer terminal of the other arm 44 of the bell-crank lever is received within an opening 46 in the movable knife. It will thus be seen that as levers 40 are oscillated, the knife cuts the ticket.

Means for rocking the knife shaft 36 comprise a cam 50 carried on the drive shaft 23 which engages a cam follower 5| keyed to the knife shaft. As the follower is moved upwardly, when viewed as in Fig. 3, lower arm 44 of the bell-crank lever moves downwardly, thus moving the knife with a rapid stroke. Springs 43 assure firm engagement between the cutting blades. The knife is returned by means of a cam 52 carried on drive shaft 23, such cam engaging a pin 53 carried on a lever 54 also keyed to knife shaft 36. In its movement, the knife 33 is guided between plates 48 whose angular extensions 49 are secured to side frames l6 (Fig. 1).

A female die 55 for perforating the ticket is keyed to a shaft 56. Die shaft 55 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a spring 68 carried concentrically thereof, and is normally held against such rotation by means of a second pin 6| carried on lever 54 which engages the outer end of a lever 62 carried on the die shaft 55 (Fig. 8). Thus, as the knife shaft is rocked in one direction for cutting, pin 6| releases the die for travel under the driving infiuence of spring 50, its movement being limited by means of fixed pin 63 carried by the frame which engages lever 82, as shown in Fig. 4. A pinion 64 is keyed to die shaft 5'5 which moves a curved rack 55 downwardly when the die moves to cutting position. The rack is carried on an arm 66 mounted on a shaft 10. Return of the die is effected by means of a die return cam 7| which engages a roller '12 mounted on arm 66. As the die is returned to starting position, pin 6| picks up lever 82, as shown in Fig. 8.

Die 55 cooperates with a fixed punch '13 mounted in the frame at '14. In view of the fact that the die has an arcuate rather than a straight-line movement, it is provided with a lower projection on the side adjacent the axis of the die shaft in order to enable the punch to cut with a shearing action. After the tickets have been punched, they are removed from the punch by means of a tubular stripper 16 mounted for sliding movement on the shank of the punch.

Downward movement of the stripper is effected by levers carried on shaft 8|. There is provided a pin-and-slot connection 82 between the outer end of each lever 8|] and the stripper. The levers are urged upwardly by means of springs 83 carried concentrically of shaft 8|, and they are driven downwardly by a cam 84 on drive shaft 23 which drives cam follower 85 on shaft 8|.

Fig. 9 shows the starting position of the stripper. One ticket or a plurality of folded tickets pass through openings l3 and 24 and into a ticket frame 81 of special construction. The ticket frame is open in the center, as shown in Fig. 10, to permit the stripper to move downwardly, and it is defined on each side by an upper, horizontal wall 85 and a lower wall 86 which is downwardly inclined at its forward edge. The two portions of the ticket frame are connected by bar 9|. Lower walls 86 of the ticket frame have the particular contour shown because of the necessary clearance between the frame and the knife, and means must be provided for positively guiding the tickets to punching position. These lower walls also prevent the tickets from getting under the frame.

Frame 81 is mounted at the lower ends of guide pins 92 which are supported for sliding movement in bushings 93 which are secured to a cross-frame 94, which is of U shape, the central, cut-away portion permitting clearance for downward movement thereof. The ticket frame is urged downwardly relative to bushings 93 by compression springs 96. The stripper 16 is rigidly secured to the mid-section of the cross-frame.

After the ticket has been received in the ticket frame 81 and the movable knife 33 has descended, levers 80 are timed to descend, thus moving the stripper and the stripper assembly including the ticket frame downwardly. Downward movement of the latter is arrested, however, by stops I carried by frames Iii while allowing the stripper to continue to descend.

The rotatable spindle-supporting assembly includes a lower disc H0 and an upper disc III carried by a shaft II2 journalled for rotative movement in bearings H3, H4 and I09, the latter two bearings being mounted in frame members Hill and I58, respectively. Means for supporting the lower ends of ticket spindles H6 may comprise spaced sockets I I on the lower disc which receive such ticket spindles and these spindles may, if desired, have tapered slots in their upper pointed ends to receive a cord (not shown). Thus, after the tickets have been applied to the spindles and it is desired to unload spindle comprise a centering flap I20 which may be stamped from sheet metal and which is hinged at I2I on the lower surface of disc I I I. The disc is provided with a generally rectangular cutaway portion !22 adjacent each flap. The flap has an opening I23 for the spindle and a U shaped wire spring I28 mounted within the opening and formed with a constricted portion which normally retains the spindle within the opening when the flap is horizontal. The flap is provided with a downward extension I 24 and an arcuate, rear extension I25 having a spiralshaped cam surface I 25. Rear extension I25 is disposed in an opening I21 in the disc.

When tickets are to be removed from the spindle, the flap has rotated downwardly on its hinge to vertical position and out of engagement with the spindle. Suitable latch means (not shown) may be provided for holding the flap in such vertical position. The flaps are automatically brought back to horizontal position by a fixed pin I3I carried by the frame and which engages cam surface I25 as the spindle-supporting assembly is rotated after the tickets have been removed. Pin I3I is located near front wall I4 of the housing, as shown in Fig. '7 and in broken lines in Fig. 2.

It will be noted in Fig. 7 that the flap about to be engaged by :pin I3I is still in its downward position, whereas the flap immediately to the right of the pin has been moved upwardly to horizontal position. Immediately after the flap has been moved to this position the spindle H6 is moved inwardly to be engaged by spring I28 associated with the flap by means of bracket I29 (Figs. 7, 17 and 18) mounted on front wall I4 of the housing, which cams the spindle rearwardly.

A generally square, tubular receptacle or cup is disposed above each flap. This cup is formed with opposed side walls I34, a front wall I35, and a rear wall I36. Each cup is carried at one end of a bracket 40, the opposite end being hinged on a horizontal axis on the disc, as shown at MI. The cup may thus be lifted upwardly away from the spindle and the flap when it is desired to remove tickets from the spindle. For the purpose of retaining bracket I in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 10, a headed pin I31 mounted in disc III passes through an opening I38 in the bracket, and the head of the pin is engaged by a wire spring I39.

The opposed side walls of the cup are provided with flat springs I42, the lower terminals of which extend through openings I43 to th interior of the cup adjacent the lower edges of such walls. The front wall I35 is provided with a flat spring I44, the lower terminal of which extends into the interior through an opening I45 substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the wall. If desired, the latter spring may be of inverted U shape, and the spaced terminals extend through plural openings in such wall. Finally, the rear wall I36 is provided with a slot I46 extending downwardly from its upper edge to provide clearance for die 55, and at the lower end another spring I50, generally on the same plane as spring I44, extends into the cup.

The relationship between the cup with its springs, the spindle, and the flap is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 18. Initially, the flap is in horizontal, spindle-supporting position. After the tickets have been cut and punched, they are moved downwardly by stripper I6 and into the cup. The tickets vary in size somewhat, depending upon whether or not they are perpendicular to the cutting knives when out. In any event, the proportions of the cup are such as to cause 7 its edges to engage the tickets as they descend.

The tickets I2 first engage springs I44 on the front wall and I45 on the rear wall, and such springs prevent upward movement of the tickets out of the cup. Passing springs I44 and I59, the tickets engage springs I42 which restrain further downward movement of the tickets. As more tickets enter the cup, the lowermost one even-- tually passes springs I42 in the side walls and contacts flap I23, moving the same downwardly and out of engagement with the spindle. The tickets in the lower section of the cup between upper springs I44 and I55 and lower springs I42 are on the spindle, and thus the tickets form the support for the upper end of the spindle, and the flap has no further spindle-supporting function.

Automatic means for signalling the ticket collector when a spindle has been filled comprise a pressure-operated switch arranagement shown in Fig, 22. A lever I5I hinged at I52 is disposed to one side of the spindle so as to permit the spindles to rotate without interference. The lever is located adjacent the spindle to which the tickets are being applied, and as the tickets descend, the pressure exerted thereby eventually overcomes the resistance of a spring I53, thus permitting the lever to descend and depress a contact I54 of a switch I55, which will be referred to in the description of the circuit.

After a spindle has been filled, the spindle support is rotated to position the next spindle in ticket-receiving position by means of a lever I56 freely journalledat its inner end upon shaft H2. The opposite end of the lever projects through an elongated opening (not shown) in the side wall of housing ill just above door I I. The lever carries an arm I60 whose outer end is bent downwardly and engages one of a plurality of spaced pins IGI mounted on the upper surface of disc III. Movement of the lever is limited by means of spaced pins I62 carried between a plate I 63 and the frame (Fig. 13). Limit pins I62 are so spaced apart as to cause the spindle assembly to rotate the precise distance between two spindles, providing the lever is moved the full distance of permitted travel. If the operator is careless in moving the lever its full permitted distance, trouble would occur since the next spindle would not be positioned to receive the tickets.

To obviate this difliculty, the following means are employed to open the main circuitand thus render knives and punch inoperative if the spindle is not properly positioned. A lever I65 is pivoted at I63 on the frame, and is urged outwardly by a spring (not shown), the lever having a cam surface ne of such contour and position as to be contacted by one of pins 56! during rotation of the spindle assembly. As the assembly rotates, pin- IBI cams lever 55 rearwardly, and when in proper position pin I6I drops into a slot Ill in the lever, thus permitting the lever to move outwardly to normal position. A post I12 carried by lever I65 engages a contact I 73 of a switch I14 which is normally closed. As long as lever I65 is in its outward position, the circuit is closed, and if the spindle assembly fails to reach its proper location the circuit remains open.

Reference is now had to the circuit shown in Fig. 21 which includes power lines I8I and I82, and a manually-operated switch I 83. When the ticket or tickets are inserted within the ticket opening, the ticket contacts paddles 25, thus closing switch 3 I, and the current then flows through power line I82, through switch 3|, through normally-closed centering switch I'M, through normally-closed limit switch I55 associated with the spindles, through a solenoid I84 associated with the one-revolution clutch assembly, through motor and its circuit including a condenser I85, and back to power line IBI. Limit switch l55 is bi-polar for the purpose of adding a few more tickets to the spindle, or for the purpose of enabling the ticket collector to add one ticket with his name or number thereon. By depressing pushbutton I80, the circuit is closed for the purpose of cutting and punching the last ticket and depositing it on the spindle.

The operation of the device is as follows. The theatre patron will purchase a ticket from the ticket seller and proceed to the ticket collector. The ticket collector takes the ticket, which comprises the patrons stub portion and the theatres stub portion, and passes the same through slot IS in the front wall of the housing. The inner edge of the ticket contacts spaced paddles 25, which closes the circuit and starts the apparatus through one cycle of operation. This produces one revolution of main drive shaft 23, which, in turn, cuts the theatres stub portion from the patrons stub portion. Substantially simultaneously therewith, die 55 moves upwardly to perforate the ticket, and stripper l6 thereupon descends, moving the ticket into the cup to a point below springs I44 and E58. The ticket is now free to move downwardly on the spindle until it encounters lower springs I42 which act as a shelf. The distance between the upper and lower springs is sufiicient toaccommodate six or eight tickets, which thereafter serve to retain the spindle centered relative to the cup or receptacle. As more tickets are added to the spindle, the lowermost tickets are moved below the lower springs I42 and eventually encounter the hinged flap, moving it downwardly and out of spindle-engaging relation. In the event that the ticket collector receives two or more tickets from the patron instead of a single ticket, he folds them in the usual way and inserts the folded tickets through the opening it, and the operation continues in the same manner as for one ticket.

As soon as a spindle has been filled, the weightresponsive switch I52 closes the auxiliary circuit and rings a bell or otherwise announces the fact to the ticket collector. This opens the main circuit and thus prevents further tickets from enjoying the cutting, punching and stripping operation. In the event, however, that the ticket collector desires to place a few more tickets on the spindle, he may do this by depressing pushbutton 585. A spindle is now filled, and the ticket collector rotates the entire spindle assembly by moving lever I56 one increment of movement. This positions the next spindle in ticket-receiving position. The operation continues until all the spindles are filled, at which time the hinged door l l is opened and the tickets removed in the manner earlier described.

The rotatable, spindle-supporting assembly constituting the first embodiment of the invention provided one cup or receptacle for each spindle, the several cups being carried by and being rotatable with the upper disc of the assembly. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 23 to 26, only a single cup is employed, such cup being mounted in fixed relation adjacent the front wall I l of the casing. The upper disc I82 of the assembly is mounted on shaft H2, and the assembly is manually rotated by lever i56 which carries arm Hill which successively engages pins Ifii on the upper disc. Such disc likewise supports the same centering mechanism as disc ll! including lever 155, switch I14, etc. The spindles I I6 are mounted in the sockets 5 l5 carried on lower disc I ID.

The cup is carried by a plate 193 secured to the frame, and includes a side wall on the entrant side, a hinged side wall I95 on the exit side, a rear wall EM, and a front wall L98. Side wall I 25 on the entrant side is formed with a vertical opening 2M extending upwardly from its lower edge to permit the spindle H6 to pass into the cup when the spindle assembly is rotated. The opening is somewhat wider than the width of the spindle, and on each side of the opening a fiat spring 599 is secured which extends downwardly into the cup adjacent its lower edge.

Hinged side wall I96 is formed with an opening 232, as shown in Fig. 26, and is formed at its upper end with a boss 233 having an opening which receives a shaft 294 in force fit or other fixed relation. The shaft is journalled in bearings 225 and 295 on the lower surface of frame A spring 2H) urges the shaft in a clockwise direction, when viewed as in Fig. 24, to normally retain the wall in closed or vertical position. The lower edge of hinged wall I9"! is curved inwardly, as shown at 200. This curved edge 200 and the lower terminals of springs I99 form a shelf to afford temporary support for the tickets in the same way that springs I99 form a shelf to afford temporary support for the tickets in the same way that springs M2 in the first embodiment of the invention form such a shelf.

It was earlier pointed out that as the tickets in the first embodiment move into the cup, they are temporarily restrained against downward movement by such springs I42, and that when additional tickets are added to the spindle, springs M2 retract sufliciently to permit further downward movement of the tickets on'the spindle. In the present instance, when this occurs, springs !99 on the entrant wall I95 retract, and lower, inwardly-curved edge 2&0 of the hinged wall is permitted to retract slightly due to the holding action of spring 2w carried on shaft 2%.

Rear wall [9? is formed with an opening 20! to provide clearance for die 55. On the lower edge of such opening, a fiat spring 298 prevents upward movement of the tickets, and a similar spring 269 on the same plane as spring 208 is secured on the front wall 6% to prevent upward movement of the tickets. Thus, at all times a plurality of tickets, usually six or eight, is retained in the cup between the upper and lower sets of springs, the tickets acting to center the spindle relative to the cup.

A lever 2H is keyed to bushing H2 and is arranged to move conjointly with manually-movable lever I56. At its outer end, lever 2!! has a generally U shaped portion 2|3, the outer leg of which is arranged to pass into the cup through opening Zili on entrant wall I95 and thus push the tickets carried on the spindle and the spindle itself out of the cup. Shaft 264 is provided with a pin 2i 5 which is engaged by a bracket 2 I6 carried onlever 2i i. Accordingly, as the spindle assembly is rotated one increment of movement, bracket 2 i 6 causes rotation of the shaft 204 and of hinged wall act from the position shown in full'lines in Fig. 2a to that shown in broken lines. 'Conjointly with this movement, pusher 213 pushes the tickets at the upper end of the spindle and the spindle itself from the cup. Then, as arm E55 returns to starting position, lever 2H and bracket 2E6 similarly retract, thus freeing pin 2 l 5 and hinged wall !96.

The spindles are all supported adjacent their upper ends by flaps 228 having springs 22! which engage the spindles. These flaps which are pivotally mounted on upper disc E92, as shown at 222, are generally similar to the hinged flaps shown in the first embodiment of the invention, except that in place of the spiral-shaped cam member 125 provided therein, such flaps 220 carry generally sector-shaped plates 223 which, when the flaps are in lowered position, pass upwardly through slots 22 5 in upper disc H92.

After the tickets have been removed from the spindles, it is, of course, necessary to make certain that the flaps are raised upwardly to spindlesupporting position before each successive spindle is rotated to ticket-applying position. For this purpose, a fixed plate 225 carried by the frame is arranged to engage the sector-shaped plate 223 adjacent the spindle one increment re- 10 and in order to insure proper inward positioning of the spindle in contact with spring 22!, a fixed cam plate 230 is carried by the frame adjacent the front wall of the housing. The spindle thus contacts this plate and is moved rearwardly. Thus, this arrangement differs from that shown in the first embodiment in that the spiral-shapedplates carried bythe flaps are automatically moved to loweredposition and the flaps to upper position as the spindle assembly is rotated. In the embodiment of Figs. 23 to 26, inclusive, however, the flaps are manually raised, but the arrangement is foolproof since the spindle assembly cannot be rotated unless the flaps are in raised position.

After a spindle has been filled with tickets and the uppermost portion of the spindle and the tickets carried thereon are moved out of the cup or receptacle, they no longer have the support afforded by the flap 220 since the flap is in lowered position, and also, such spindles do not have the continuing support of the individual cup provided for each spindle of the first embodiment. In

order to support the several spindles for the bal-. ance of their travel after leaving the cup, there is provided an inner, annular ring 23-! and an outer, annular ring 232, which rings are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the spindles. These concentric rings have their starting point at 233, and at this point they are slightly upwardly bent, as shown in Fig. 24.

Portion 233 likewise forms a stop for upward movement of hinged wall I96. Y

The rings are maintained in their spaced relation by means of inverted, U shaped brackets 235 at spaced intervals around their peripheries, the brackets being sufiiciently high to permit the up.

per end of the spindle to pass therebeneath. Thus,

the inner ring 231 is carried by the outer ring 232,

and the latter is supported by brackets 231 atspaced intervals around the frame. The last of the U shaped brackets is shown at 238, at which point the rings end, and there is thus an area between bracket 238 and the spindle in ticketapplying position where the spindles have no support for their upper ends. It is in this area that the upper ends of the spindles may be moved slightly outwardly to permit tickets to be removed therefrom.

The hole punched in the ticket by die 55 is of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of 1 In most instances, the ticket stripe v the spindles. per, having a flat lower surface, pushes the ticket. or tickets directly downwardly. In some .in-

stances, however, one edge ofthe ticket may not be properly centered relative to the cup, and thus move downwardly at an inclined angle rather than in a horizontal position. In order to obshelf.

In place of the rigid mounting for the lower ends of the spindles earlier described, the modi fled structure shown in Fig. 2'? may be used. In this instance the spindle 248 is received at its lower end in a bushing 249 with a force-fit. The bushing, in turn, is mounted in the upper end of a helical spring 250 and the lower end of the 11 spring receives a, stud 25! having a reduced threaded section 252 at its lower end. The latter passes through an opening in lower disc H6 and is secured by a nut 253.

This arrangement gives adequate support for the lower end of the spindle and has certain advantages over the more rigid mounting.

While two forms or embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to specific applications thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiments shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated forms or embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a ticket machine, the combination of a ticket cutter for cutting the ticket from the patron's stub portion thereof, a punch for perforating the ticket, a spindle disposed below the punch, and means comprising a stripper associated with the punch for applying the punched tickets to the spindle, a support for the lower end of the spindle, and means for providing support for the upper end of the spindle while permitting downward travel of the tickets thereon, such means comprising a retractable element formed with spindle-holding means, a receptacle which receives the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation, the receptacle being open at its upper and lower ends and being arranged to receive the tickets and afford support against lateral movement thereof as they are applied to the upper end of the spindle, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move theretractable element out of spindle-supporting position as the tickets within the receptacle support the spindle relative to such receptacle, and means for retaining plural tickets within the receptacle in such spindle-supporting position including plural, vertically-spaced finers extending into there'ceptacle.

2. In a ticket machine, the combination of a ticket cutter for cutting the ticket from the patrons stub portion thereof, a punch for perforating the ticket, plural spindles arranged to be successively positioned relative to the punch, and means for applying the punched tickets to the spindles, a support for the lower end of each spindle, and means for providing support for the upper end of the spindle while permitting downward travel of the tickets thereon, such means comprising a hinged, retractable element formed with spindle-holding means, a receptacle adjacent the upper end of the spindle which is open at its upper and lower ends and which is arranged to receive the tickets and afford support against lateral movement thereof as they are applied to the upper end of the spindle, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable element out of spindle-supporting position as the tickets within the receptacle support the spindle relative to such receptacle, and means comprising fingers in the receptacle restraining downward movement of the tickets in order to retain a plurality of tickets in spindle-supporting position.

3. In a ticket machine, the combination of a rotatable ticket spindle assembly, plural ticket spindles mounted at their lower ends thereon in spaced relation, means for successively positioning one spindle in ticket-applying position, a

ticket cutter for severing the ticket from the patrons stub portion thereof, a punch disposed above such one spindle, a die cooperating with the punch for perforating the ticket, and means comprising a stripper carried on the punch for applying the punched tickets to the spindle, means for providing support for the upper end of the spindle while permitting downward travel of the tickets thereon, such means comprising a hinged plate formed with spindle-holding means, a receptacle adjacent the upper end of each spindle which is open at its upper and lower ends and which is arranged to receive the tickets and afford support against lateral movement thereof as they are applied to the upper end of the spindle, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the hinged plate out of spindle-supporting position as the tickets contained therein suppport the spindle relative to the receptacle, means comprising spring fingers in the receptacle restraining upward and downward travel of the tickets in order to retain a plurality of tickets in such spindle-supporting position, and means for returning the hinged plates to spindle-supporting position as the assembly is rotated, such means comprising a cam associated with each plate and a fixed pin arranged to successively engage the cams as the assembly is rotated.

4. In a ticket machine, the combination of a ticket cutter for severing the ticket from the patrons stub portion thereof, a punch for perforating the ticket and plural spindles arranged to be successively positioned relative to the punch, means for supporting each spindle at its lower end and means for providing support for the upper end of the spindle while permitting downward travel of the tickets thereon, such means comprising a retractable element formed with spindle-holding means, a fixed, tubular receptacle adjacent the upper end of the spindle in ticketapplying position, such receptacle being arranged to receive the tickets and afford support against lateral movement thereof as they are applied to the upper end of the spindle, the entrant side of the receptacle having an opening to permit a spindle to pass into the receptacle, a hinged door on the exit side of the receptacle to permit the spindle with tickets thereon to pass out of the receptacle, the lowermost ticket on the spindle being arranged to move the retractable element out of spindle-supporting position as the tickets within the receptacle support the spindle relative to such receptacle.

5. In a ticket machine, the combination of a frame, a drive shaft journalled in the frame, a

knife for cutting the patrons stub from the ticket, a ticket frame for receiving the ticket, a punch extending downwardly into the ticket-receiving area of the frame, a ticket-receiving spindle below and axially aligned with the punch, a movable die cooperating with the punch for perforating the ticket, a ticket stripper for removing the ticket from the punch, a receptacle which receives the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation and which is proportioned to receive the punched ticket as it is moved downwardly by the stripper, the tickets within the receptacle acting to generally center the spindle within the receptacle, vertically-spaced, retractable fingers extending into the receptacle to retain a plurality of the tickets in such spindle-centering position, a retractable member supporting the upper section of the spindle and being arranged to be retracted upon contact with the lowermost ticket as it passes downwardly on the spindle, and

13 means operatively connecting the knife, the die and the stripper with the drive shaft to actuate such members substantially simultaneously.

6. In a ticket machine, the combination of a frame, a drive shaft journalled in the frame, a motor for rotating the shaft, a fixed knife and a movable-knife mounted for reciprocating movement and cooperating with the fixed knife for cutting the patrons stub from the ticket, a ticket frame provided with opposed recesses for receiving the ticket, a fixed punch extending downwardly into the ticket-receiving area of the frame, a ticket-receiving spindle below and axially aligned with the punch, a movable die cooperating with the punch for perforating the ticket, a ticket stripper carried concentrically of the punch, a receptacle which receives the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation and which is proportioned to receive the punched ticket as it is moved downwardly by the stripper, the tickets within the receptacle acting to generally center the spindle within the receptacle, verticallyspaced, retractable fingers extending into the receptacle to retain a plurality of the tickets in such spindle-centering position, a retractable member below the receptacle for supporting the upper section of the spindle and being arranged to be retracted upon contact with the lowermost ticket as it passes downwardly on the spindle, and means operatively connecting the movable knife, the die and the stripper with the drive shaft to actuate such members, a normally closed, weight-responsive switch at the lower end of the spindle arranged to be opened when a predetermined quantity of tickets have been applied to the spindle, and a circuit including the motor, said weight-responsive switch, and a switch arranged to be closed by a ticket inserted in the ticket frame.

7. In a ticket machine, the combination of a rotatable spindle assembly including upper and lower discs, plural ticket spindles mounted at their lower ends on the lower discs, retractable members on the upper discs affording a support for the upper sections of the spindles, means for manually rotating the assembly to successively position one spindle in ticket-applying position, a frame, a fixed ticket punch generally aligned with said one spindle, a ticket frame having opposed recesses for receiving the ticket to be punched, cutting means for cutting the ticket from the patrons stub portion thereof, a movable die cooperating with the punch to perforate the ticket. a ticket receptacle below the ticket frame which receives the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation thereto and which is proportional to receive the punched tickets which form a bushing between the spindle and the receptacle, a ticket stripper associated with the punch for moving the punched tickets into the receptacle, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable spindle support out of contact therewith, and a drive shaft with driving means therefor journalled in the frame and operatively connected with the cutting means, the die and the stripper, a motor connected with the drive shaft, centering means for the spindle assembly including a normally closed switch arranged to be opened when one spindle is unaligned with the punch, a switch arranged to be closed when contacted by a ticket in the ticket frame, and a circuit including the motor and said switches.

'8. In a ticket machine, the combination of a rotatable spindle assembly including upper and lower discs, plural ticket spindles mounted at 14 their lower ends on the lower disc, retractable members on the upper disc affording a support for the upper sections of the spindles, means for:

'= punched tickets which form a bushing between the spindle and the receptacle to generally center the spindle relative to the receptacle, a plurality of spaced fingers within the receptacle for retaining a plurality of tickets in such spindle- ;centering relation, a ticket stripper associated with driving means therefor journalled in the frame and operatively connected with the cutting means, the die and the stripper.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a, spindle for receiving punched tickets, a flexible support for the lower end of the spindle, means for supportin the upper end of the spindle comprising a retractable member arranged to grasp the spindle and a tubular member receiving the upper end of the spindle :in spaced relation, such tubular member being proportioned to receive the tickets and afford lateral support therefor as they pass downwardly onto the spindle, the tickets within such tubular member being arranged to retain the spindle in spaced relation relative to the tubular member, vertically-spaced, fingers extending into the tubularmember to retain a plurality of tickets in spindle-supporting relation, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable member out of spindle-supporting position.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a spindle for receiving punched tickets, a support for the lower end of the spindle, means for supporting the upper end of the spindle comprising a retractable member arranged to grasp the spindle, a tubular member receiving the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation, such tubular member being proportioned to receive the tickets and afford lateral support therefor as they pass downwardly onto the spindle, spring elements on the inner surface of the tubular member at varying distances from the lower edge thereof for retaining a, plurality of the tickets in such tubular member, the tickets within such tubular member being arranged to retain the :are applied to the spindle.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a spindle for receiving punched tickets, a support for the lower end of the spindle, means for supporting the upper end of the spin- .dle comprising a hinged, retractable member arranged to grasp the spindle and a generally rectangular receptacle which is open at its upper and lower ends and which receives the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation, such tubular member being proportioned to receive the tickets and afford lateral support therefor as they pass downwardly onto the spindle, the side walls of the receptacle having openings therein, and vertically-spaced fingers passin through such openings into the receptacle to prevent upward movement of the tickets out of the receptacle and to retain a, plurality of tickets against falling from the receptacle, the tickets within such tubular member being arranged to retain the spindle in spaced relation relative to the tubular member, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable member out of spindle-supporting position as additional tickets are applied to the spindle.

12. A ticket machine comprising plural spindles for receiving punched tickets and a rotatable spindle-supporting assembly upon which the lower ends of the spindles are mounted, means comprising a hinged, retractable member for affording initial support for the upper section of each spindle and means whereby tickets carried at the upper end of the spindle afford a continuing support therefor, such means comprising a tubular member which receives the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation thereto, the tubular member being proportioned to receive the punched tickets and provide lateral support therefor while such tickets retain the spindle generally centered relative to the tubular member, fingers within the receptacle above and below the upper end thereof for retaining plural tickets in such spindle-supporting relation, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable member out of spindle-supporting position as additional tickets are applied to the spindle.

13. A ticket machine comprising a frame, plural spindles for receiving punched tickets and a rotatable spindle-supporting assembly upon which the lower ends of the spindles are mounted, means for rotating the assembly to successively position one spindle in ticket-applying position, means comprising a hinged, retractable member carried by the frame for affording initial support for the upper section of the spindle, and means whereby tickets carried at the upper end of such spindle afford continuing support therefor, such means comprising a tubular member which receives the upper end of said spindle in spaced relation thereto, the tubular member being proportioned to receive the punched tickets and provide lateral support therefor while such tickets retain the spindle generally centered relative to the tubular member, means comprising fingers for retaining plural tickets in the tubular member against upward and lowered movement relative to the upper end of the spindle, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable member out of spindle-supporting position as tickets are applied to the spindle, the tubular member having on its entrant side an opening to permit the spindle to pass thereinto, and a hinged door on its exit side to permit the ticket-filled spindle to pass out of the tubular member.

14. In a ticket machine, the combination of a rotatable support, plural spindles secured at their lower ends on such support, means affording support for the upper ends of each spindle as tickets are applied thereto, and means for cutting patrons stub portions from the tickets, punching the tickets and depositing them on the spindle, the upper spindle support comprising a retractable member arranged to grasp the spindle and a tubular member receiving the upper end of the spindle in spaced relation, the tubular member 16 being proportioned to receive the punched tickets as they are deposited on the spindle and afford lateral support for such tickets which, in turn, retain the spindle generally centered relative to the tubular member.

15. A ticket machine comprising plural spindles for receiving punched tickets and a rotatable spindle-supporting assembly upon which the lower ends of the spindles are mounted, means comprising a retractable member for affording initial support for the upper end of each spindle and means whereby tickets carried at the upper end of the spindle afford a continuing support therefor, such means comprising a fixed, tubular member which receives the upper end of the spindle which is in ticket-applying position, the spindle being disposed in spaced relation to the tubular member, such tubular member being proportioned to receive the punched tickets and provide lateral support therefor while such tickets retain the spindle generally centered relative to the tubular member, and a ticket pusher arranged to push the tickets on a filled spindle from the tubular member, one of the walls thereof having an opening to admit the pusher, the opposed wall being hinged, the lowermost ticket being arranged to move the retractable member out of spindlesupporting position as additional tickets are applied to the spindle.

16. In a machine for receiving punched tickets, the combination of a plurality of spindles mounted at their lower ends and means for successively positioning one spindle in ticket-receiving position, retractable members for normally supporting the upper sections of the spindles, a receptacle carried by a frame and positioned to receive the upper end of said one spindle in spaced relation thereto, the walls of the receptacle being proportioned to receive a punched ticket which is thereupon received on said spindle, the receptacle including a fixed entrant wall having an opening therein and a hinged exit wall, the several walls being provided with vertically-spaced, inturned fingers which guide the tickets in their passage through the receptacle and retain a plurality of tickets therein to generally center the spindle relative to the receptacle, and a ticket pusher arranged to enter the receptacle through the entrant wall when a filled spindle is moved therefrom to push the tickets at the upper end of the spindle from the receptacle.

1'7. In a machine for receiving punched tickets, the combination of a frame, a rotatable assembly journalled in the frame, plural spindles mounted at their lower ends on the assembly in spaced relation, means for manually rotating the assembly to successively position one spindle in ticketreceiving relation, a receptacle carried by the frame and positioned to receive the upper end of said one spindle in spaced relation thereto, the walls of the receptacle being proportioned to receive a punched ticket which is thereupon received on said spindle, the receptacle including a fixed entrant wall having an opening therein and a retractable exit wall, each being provided at its lower end with an inturned finger which restrains downward movement of tickets on the spindle, such tickets acting to generally center the spindle relative to the receptacle, a ticket pusher associated with said manual rotating means arranged to enter the receptacle through the opening in the entrant wall when the assembly is rotated to push the tickets at the upper end of the spindle from the receptacle, and means further associated with the rotating means to move the retractable door to open position conjointly with rotation of the spindle.

18. In a machine for receiving punched tickets, the combination of a frame, a rotatable assembly journalled in the frame, plural spindles mounted at their lower ends on the assembly in spaced relation, hinged, retractable members for normally supporting the upper sections of the spindles, a lever for manually rotating the assembly to successively position one spindle in ticketreceiving relation, a generally rectangular ticket receptacle carried by the frame and positioned to receive the upper end of said one spindle in spaced relation thereto, the receptacle including an entrant wall having an opening and a movable exit wall, the receptacle being provided with vertically-spaced, inturned fingers which restrain downward and upward movement of tickets on the spindle, such tickets acting to generally center the spindle relative to the receptacle, a ticket pusher associated with said lever arranged to enter the receptacle through the entrant wall when the assembly is rotated to push the tickets at the upper end of the spindle from the receptacle, and means associated with the pusher to move the exit wall to open position conjointly with rotation of the spindle.

19. In a machine for receiving punched tickets, the combination of a frame, a rotatable assembly journalled in the frame and including upper and lower discs, plural spindles mounted at their lower ends on the lower disc in spaced relation, hinged, retractable members for normally supporting the upper sections of the spindles, means for manually rotating the assembly to successively position one spindle in ticket-receiving position, a receptacle carried by the frame and positioned to receive the upper end of said one spindle in spaced relation thereto, the walls of the receptacle being proportioned to receive a punched ticket which is thereupon received on said spindle, the receptacle including a fixed entrant wall and a hinged exit wall, each having an opening therein and being provided at their lower ends with an inturned finger which restrains downward movement of tickets on the spindle, such tickets acting to generally center the spindle relative to the receptacle, a ticket pusher associated with said manual rotating means arranged to enter the receptacle through the entrant Wall when the assembly is rotated to push the tickets at the upper end of the spindle from the receptacle, and means further associated with the rotating means to move the hinged door to open position conjointly with rotation of the spindle.

20. In a ticket machine, the combination of a ticket cutter for cutting the ticket from the patrons stub portion thereof, a punch for perforating the ticket, plural spindles arranged to be successively positioned relative to the punch, and means for applying the punched tickets to the spindles, a support for the lower end of each spindle, and means for providing support for the upper section of the spindle while permitting downward travel of the tickets thereon, such means comprising a hinged, retractable element formed with spindle-holding means, a fixed receptacle which is positioned adjacent the upper end of the spindle which is in ticket-applying position and which receives such spindle in spaced relation thereto, the walls of the receptacle being proportioned to receive a ticket which is thereupon received on said spindle, the receptacle including a fixed entrant wall having an opening therein and a hinged exit wall, each being provided at its lower end with a finger which restrains downward movement of tickets on the spindle, such tickets acting to generally center the spindle relative to the receptacle, 3, ticket pusher associated with said manual rotating means arranged to enter the receptacle through the entrant wall opening when the assembly is rotated to push the tickets at the upper end of the spindle from the receptacle, and means further associated with the rotating means to move the hinged door to open position conjointly with rotation of the spindle.

RICHARD I. N. WEINGART.

No references cited. 

